Ashwath Kaushik began his chess journey at just 4 years old. Coach Tigran was his very first coach, laying the foundations that would shape Ashwath into one of the brightest young stars in the chess world.
At 6 years old, Ashwath won gold in the World Cadet Rapid Chess U-8 event, becoming Coach Tigran’s third student to achieve the title of world champion. That same year, he represented his school at the 63rd National Inter-School Team Chess Championship, scoring a perfect 6 out of 6 points for his team.
In 2024, at only 8 years old, Ashwath made global headlines when he became the youngest player in history to defeat a Grandmaster in classical chess, defeating GM Jacek Stopa of Poland. Reflecting on his victory, Ashwath said:
“I am excited and proud at beating my first GM. I had come close a year back at the end of a long game but missed a winning chance, to draw finally. I was looking forward to breaking this record, and was really happy I could achieve it.”
His historic achievement was celebrated not just in Singapore, but around the world. GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming, CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation, noted:
“His achievement has been nothing short of sensational, making news on not just our local outlets but also CNN, BBC, Associated Press, CBS and many others. The SCF is proud of him and while not putting too much pressure on the boy, expects him to be a future star in global chess.”
Ashwath’s father also shared his thoughts on the journey so far:
“He has been lucky to have been guided by great long-term coaches for over 2.5–3 years now, from FM Tigran Gyozalyan (his first coach), GM Ilja Zaragatski, WIM Tijana Mandura, FM Balaji G, and a few others on specific topics. SCF also provides world-class training as part of their National Training Programme, conceptualised by GM Kevin Goh.”
With strong foundations, the support of his family, and the guidance of world-class coaches, Ashwath continues to inspire as he carves his place in chess history.